CRICKET SONGS BY NORMAN GALE [Illustration] METHUEN AND CO. 36 ESSEX STREET, W.C. LONDON 1894 Edinburgh: T. and A. Constable, Printers to Her Majesty These Cricket Songs are dedicated to all Rugby Boys in general, and to John and William Denton in particular PREFACE Four years ago the author of this book issued a slender volume of cricket songs. Seven of these are now reprinted; the rest are new. The cricket ball, for the most part, is spoken of as a female. Once or twice the neuter gender is used. _Varium et mutabile semper femina._ It is hoped that the introduction of the names of prominent players (and one critic) will cause no vexation. Apologies are tendered to Mr. Moore and Mr. Shakespeare. CONTENTS PAGE In Spring 1 Up at _Lords_ 3 Out 5 Lay On 8 Rub It In 10 Buzz Her In 12 A Colonist 16 Lightning (Greased) 18 Golf steals our Youth 20 A Tomboy 23 Advice Gratis 25 Quinquaginta Annos Natus 28 Star-Gazing 30 O Bowler, Bowler 31 The Church Cricketant 34 Revenge 36 Chuck Her Up 38 Two Critics 41 Buttered 44 Sparkling 46 'Duck' 48 On the Spot 51 The Hope of Surrey 53 Bombastes 56 England _v._ Australia 59 Cricket on the Hearth 61 Dark Blue 64 The Last Ball of Summer 66 IN SPRING Grass begins to grow, Winds to be more civil, Rollers press the pitch For to make it level: Thrushes pipe a stave In the budding thicket; Snowdrops point to pads, Crocuses to Cricket! Soon will stand the Slip Crouching for a capture; Soon the slogger slog Fours and fives in rapture! Soon the curly lob Find its love, the wicket; Snowdrops point to pads, Crocuses to Cricket! Urchins in the road Bowl with oblong pebbles, Sending to each mate Bursts of happy trebles: In the words of slang, Summer is the ticket! Snowdrops point to pads, Crocuses to Cricket! UP AT _LORDS_ When Stoddart makes her hum, Up at _Lords_, Till the bowler bites his thumb, Up at _Lords_, How the Middlesex supporters Turn vociferous exhorters As he jumps on Lockwood's Snorters, Up at _Lords_!